Honestly I'd really love a character gag of Akainu being really soft/affectionate towards his daughter, like really proud and fond of her at least secretly. Like dads who get involved with dressing as fairies/princesses with their daughters, having tea parties with them, letting them do their hair or makeup on them as "guinea pigs" etc lol. I don't know if Akainu would be that "willing/open-minded/humble" but he might be a real softy with his own daughter, especially if the mother has died as with typical Oda and he might just have that side to him deep down, like how that cover page shows him tending that Bonsai so delicately too.
I feel it would add so much depth or layers to his character and make him more interesting, endearing and thus nuanced too. Also a lot funnier ofc lol. I already really like Akainu but this would elevate him even more for me by far.
This song also makes me feel there is more to him than meets the eye too:
The autumn leaves are a beautiful magma color.
After you saw the autumn leaves, you returned to the route.
It reminds you of family.
After you ate maple manjuu, you returned to work.
Be sure not to live disgracefully.
Once you fall behind,
you can't take the frontlines for your whole life.
Holding up thorough justice,
invincible, it's kill or be killed.
Battle without honor!
The villains you hate push you too far.
Abuse! Come, blow out the flame.
The red hot magma..
is prepared.
After you saw the carps fighting, you returned to the route.
It beats at your bravery.
After you ate lots of oysters, you returned to work.
You fight with those guys towards that sea.
Once you feel fear,
you can't win against yourself for your whole life.
The alarm ringing on the wanted poster,
burning, it's catch or be caught.
Battle without honor!
It's a fate where pirates don't prosper.
We'll win! Come, roar out, color it.
This naval bond...
is kicking about.
Battle without honor!
The villains you hate push you too far.
Abuse! Come, blow out the flame.
The red hot magma..
is prepared.
If you say I “won't run away,”
you're already living, don't give up,
you idiots!
There's such poetic and vibrant symbolism here too and his VA's singing and the song itself are FANTASTIC too! I LOVE Fujitoras song too and Aokijis VA did such a fantastic job in Film Z especially too...
The time is now to bet humanity and justice in the gambling den
In any case, this world is made up of evens or odds
Even though the current me cannot see
Malicious faces are the only ones I can see crystal clear
The gangs that form in the bars
And the fallen justice have not changed
Rassera Rassera Rassera Rassera
No need to rush, now is not the time
The Nebuta’s tiger can only move on the shoulders of men
It is a truly unfortunate occupation
Rassera Rassera Hinging on the answer
Rassera Rassera The unsettled tiger
In its respected domain, I sheathe my sword
The sun sees through my tricks
Those who dedicate themselves to this festival
Are wondrously spirited
Although there are good and evil in life
None are light or heavy
Rassera Rassera Rassera Rassera
No need to rush, now is not the time
The concealing fangs on the Nebuta tiger
When all worldly phenomena becomes transient,
Rassera Rassera Be unfearing of God
Rassera Rassera The howling tiger
Rassera Rassera
The gangs that form in the bars
And the fallen justice have not changed
Rassera Rassera Rassera Rassera
No need to rush, now is not the time
The Nebuta’s tiger can only move on the shoulders of men
It is a truly unfortunate occupation
Rassera Rassera Hinging on the answer
Rassera Rassera The unsettled tiger
Someone compared Akainu to Inspector Javert from Les Miserables and I really like that too:
https://www.reddit.com/r/OnePiece/comments/l9nhjj/_/glj6csa
I think so. I've mentioned this before but, imo Akainu is based off Javert from Les miserables.
In their fight, Luffy will choose to spare akainu's life even though he has absolutely zero reason to do so. Akainu will realize that the justice he was following all along was corrupt and that he did many evil things in service to corrupt justice. Ultimately, he kills himself in order to give himself the absolute justice he deserves for the things he's done.
Bonus pic for fun: